Posts Tagged With: Pulled Pork

Since moving back to America, Matt and I have been trying to expand our taste buds and try out the best food Dallas has to offer. We’ve hit some oldies (but goodies!) and are trying new haunts to test our palettes. I’ve had a hankering for barbecue lately, which Matt satisfied by taking me to a restaurant called Smoke on the southwest side of Dallas.

It wasn’t Matt’s first visit to Smoke and he raved that I would love it. He can be kind of a picky eater, so if he raves about cuisine, it must be good. Located in the Bishop Arts area of Dallas, my first impression of Smoke hit me as we opened the door and the most amazing and woody aromas wafted my way.

However, the atmosphere was not what I expected – an upscale barbecue and smoked meat joint, the inside provided a mix of dark woods and chic decor. Antique-looking chairs and couches surrounded a smoldering fireplace and adorable animal designs in blues and pinks adorned the menus and china.

As for the food…oh my melt in your mouth! I ordered the All Natural Pulled Whole Hog, NC Style with Red Vinegar, Mustard & Blue Cheese Cole Slaw. I was told that it came with a salad, which I was fine with at first, but then Matt let me know that their BBQ fries are insane, so I asked for a side of those as well. I absolutely loved the way they put together my sandwich…piled high with cole slaw! And the pulled pork was full of flavor, meaning it wasn’t smothered by the intense serving of cole slaw. A win in my book.

My pulled pork sandwich and slaw. Yum!

Matt ordered the Chopped Coffee Cured Beef Brisket with Bread & Butter Pickles, which he let me have a taste of, and I’ll tell you what – the smoky flavor of the brisket mixed with the sour pickle and smooth BBQ sauce made for the perfect flavor combination. And those BBQ fries he recommended? I refused to dip them in ketchup or add more BBQ sauce because they were perfectly seasoned and fried to a crispy golden brown.

The BBQ sauce they offer is a treat in itself. After setting down our sandwiches, our very friendly and attentive server went through the four sauces he brought to the table. Unfortunately, I can’t remember them exactly and they aren’t listed on the website. What I can tell you, though, is that there was a traditional Texas sauce, a spicy sauce, one with a mustard base and a tomatillo (roasted tomato) sauce. I put together a combination of the traditional Texas BBQ and the spicy sauce, because I LOVE spice.

While enjoying our lunch, I took a look around and saw someone at another table enjoying a traditional plate of barbecue – we’re talking sliced brisket with what looked like their Cheese Grits & Hominy Casserole and their BBQ Beans. I also noticed that their wide, U-shaped bar looked cozy and comfortable for an evening drink.

I can’t say enough about my first experience at Smoke. The inviting atmosphere, warm ambience and delicious food provided a great way for us to beat the winter weather. Don’t just take my word for it…check out their website where they have videos about their restaurant and reviews from publications. And next time you have a hankering for some good, Texas barbecue, DO take my word for it and stop by Smoke Restaurant!